Perplexity just launched Portable Computer, an AI agent that runs entirely on hardware you own — starting with NVIDIA's DGX Spark desktop and soon on Linux machines with RTX GPUs. Work done locally consumes zero billing credits. Cloud models activate only with your permission.
How it works
The orchestrator, planner, tool router, and a 27-billion-parameter model all run on your machine. Files, conversation history, and task execution stay local. When a job is too complex for the local model, the system asks before sending that single step to the cloud. You pick between Qwen 3.8 27B or Perplexity's own PPLX 27B as your local engine, with 15+ cloud models available as backup.
What it costs
Portable Computer requires a Perplexity Pro or Max subscription plus NVIDIA's DGX Spark hardware, which sells for $4,699. The box packs a 20-core Arm CPU, 128 GB unified memory, and the GB10 Grace Blackwell chip. One-click install is live on Linux; Windows support is coming.
Why it matters
This is the most aggressive push yet to move serious AI agent work off the cloud. Privacy is the pitch: sensitive data never leaves your desk. But the trade is steep — a $4,699 upfront cost to escape monthly token bills. If local models keep improving, this setup turns frontier cloud AI from the default into the occasional backup. The question is whether you want to own the box or keep renting the answer.